Dear readers,

the controls within the framework of the "Maritime Safety Days"which are carried out every year by the water police in the northern federal states, are certainly a sensible measure to sensitise sailors and motorboat drivers to comply with the applicable laws. After all, we all benefit from safety on the water. And it is also well known that the average citizen only reacts to fines.

Now our colleagues from the NDR on board during an inspection trip on the Jade off Wilhelmshaven, and what they had to report was just crying out for a lively discussion. The very friendly officer explains to the baffled skipper of a small cruising yacht that he has committed an administrative offence because his sailing boat has neither a name nor a home port. A fine of 50 euros is to be paid for this offence. Excuse me?

But it gets even worse for the skipper. Because there are no up-to-date or corrected paper charts on board, according to the water police officer, a second offence has been committed. A further 100 euros in fines plus administrative fees are then due for this offence - even though there are two electronic devices with up-to-date data records on board. The skipper's anger is understandable; after all, a total fine of 150 euros plus fees is no mean feat.

But is the threatened fine even legal? A search on the Internet only reveals that sea yachts over 15 metres in length must be labelled with their name and home port. But what about smaller boats? A call to the water police in Wilhelmshaven brings a startling realisation: according to the officer on duty, this case is not an administrative offence and the naming is voluntary. This charge will therefore be dropped by the Directorate-General for Waterways and Shipping. So what's the point? Making a person feel insecure despite knowing the contrary is not just pomposity on the part of the authorities, it borders on coercion.

• Checks at the start of the season - which boat documents should be on board
• Typical flag handling errors that can be costly

When it comes to paper charts, however, there is no room for interpretation. No matter how many electronic devices with up-to-date nautical charts are on board, the law requires an up-to-date paper chart as a backup. (Amendment from 27/05/2024However, whether an offence is subject to a fine is controversial and not clearly regulated). At first glance, this may seem outdated and nonsensical, but in the course of increasing GPS interference this could make more sense again. Especially in challenging tidal areas such as the North Sea, which are constantly changing. And why should we unlearn everything we once learnt hard? In any case, all skippers should realise that sloppy trip preparation - in whatever form - and the resulting accidents are not only a danger for their own crew, but also a useless risk for rescuers.

Morten Strauch,

YACHT editor

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